Hello, I have been reading the forums for a couple of months but haven't had anything to post - but I have learned so much from everyone here. Thanks!

Anyway, I am putting together a survival pouch for everyday carry. My husband and I love hiking and I would like to have some extra gear on me at all times, not just in our backpacks at base camp. I am having trouble deciding which pouch to buy and what to put into it. I would like the pouch to be as small as possible as I am a 5 foot 6 in 130lb woman size 4.

I want to carry:
Emergency Blanket - I feel this is very important
Water proof matches
Firestarter
Tinder
Small Bic
Bandaids
Aluminum Foil
Safety Pins
Sewing needle/thread
Quick Clot
Medicines (ascriptin and benedryl so my dog can take the meds too and anti diarrhea)
Water treatment tabs
Salt
Condom to fill with water
Duct Tape
Fishing line, sinker and hook
Small Buck pocket knife

For the pouches I am debating between the Maxpedition: Three-by-five, Four-by-Six, Tactile Small and the M1 Waistpack. Does anyone own any of these and use them with these types of items? My main problem is I have no idea what I can fit into these pouches as I don't have access to them. My survival blanket is folded down to 4.5" X 3' which would take up most of the Three-by-Five pouch.

For a trial run I put all the items in the first list in the front pouch of my Maxpedition Fatboy (I got a great deal on it) and it took up about 6"X3" of the pouch, but that is just an estimate.

In a wilderness situation I would also be carrying my Gerber 10" Survival Knife my brother got me, but I can't carry that around in the city. I always wear my para-cord bracelet with compass and para-cord anklet.

To sum it up, am I carrying too much, not enough, just right? Missing anything? Does anyone own a pouch in this size range to recommend? Cheaper (price not quality) pouches are always welcome but I don't want the pouch to stand out on a tiny girl.

The problem with bigger pouches is that you will always want to fill it with more stuff. You have a little extra room and you start to wonder what else you MIGHT be able to use. Overall that isn't a bad thing, but it starts to set-up that mindset that you need more rather than less.

For this type of kit, you want to focus on less is more. Not more room for more stuff.

The type of "survival kit" you are designing has a lot to do with the size and stuff you need. From what you describe, it sounds like you are looking for something easy to carry while you are out hiking emergencies.

So for this purpose, I would say that 4x6 is about as large as you want to get.

-As far as packing it, the survival blanket is important to you. I would recommend to open it and re-fold it. Sometimes you can save a lot of space by doing so. The problem is that it weakens the blanket somewhat. But even if you roll it up rather than have the square, it may fit in a pouch better. Or if you have a larger, but flatter area.

-The condom.. someone here recommended ditching the condom and go for an "oven bag". I have tried this and it works a ton better than the condom for sure. Less space also.

-I would add the small LED button light.

-But leave out the snare wire, emergency saw, rain gear and pepper spray. Too much bulk for this type of kit and you will not be able to set out enough snares to sustain you for a long period. This is not the type of kit to keep that type of gear in. Maybe a larger daypack or something, but not a smaller emergency kit.

-Everything else looks very packable except for the quick-clot. That is the second bulkiest item and it is harder to pack into a small kit since it is vaccum packed and doesnt change forms easily.

The oven bag is a good idea, I didn't like how stretchy the condom is, I would rather not pop it accidentally.

Should I throw in a tampon instead of the quick clot? At least that would have a dual purpose for me

I was thinking about the LED light, sounds good.

I will also carry it when I go deer and turkey hunting next year, but I will be carrying a larger pack with it and my compound bow (hubby got it for me for my birthday).

Thanks, I'll get the 4X6. Just needed a second opinion before I spent the money.

I tried the oven bag option myself a few times and it really does work better.

As far as the tampon goes... that is a judgement call that is up to you. I don't really want to say "choose this over that" on this item since it is your first aid. Personally, I still carry my first aid seperately from my survival kit. Though a tampon would certainly save space, especially those ones that do not have an applicator. But there are small pouches of quickclot also.

The maxpidition pouch is nice because it has an outer zipper also so you can toss in smaller items in there. I do not think you will have any problem fitting the stuff you mentioned above into that pouch. You might have to see about the quickclot and refold the blanket. But you should be good.

Let us know how it turns out.

Then when you are going deer hunting, you can carry the larger items in your pack such as the survival saw and rainjacket.

Your small kit sounds good, but I would lighten it up some. I just reread your post, and think there are some small changes we could make.
From what I read, you want something for hiking and EDC, but you have a larger pack at base camp. Going off of that information, I would only carry what I would deem necessary to get me back to my larger pack. (works for EDC too if you keep a Get Home Bag in your vehicle)
*I would ditch the matches and firestarter and keep the Bic. I used to smoke heavily, and can't remember ever running a Bic out of fluid. Plus you can dunk them in water and they still light.
*Keep all first aid items you feel are necessary for YOU.
*Keep the space blanket.
*Keep the safety pins, but ditch the sewing needle and thread (you can make small repairs with the pins
*Toss the fishing kit.
*Replace the water tablets with a Water Filter Straw. (filters up to 20 gallons of water)
*Replace the knife with a small Leatherman, like the Juice
*Keep the tin foil, duct tape, and tinder. (Tinder should be vaseline cottonballs or jute twine)
*You can find a small LED keychain light to attach to the zipper if you go with a small pouch.
*Add a small whistle.
*Add a small signal mirror.

I carry alot of the same stuff. I just try to make it where I can get back to my main pack/bag if I need too. I try to not to make my small pouch a Bug Out Bag in itself. I'm thinking, more along the lines of 1 night out in the wilderness if you get lost injured.

I might of forgot a couple of things, but overall I think you have a great plan, and an excellent list. Just a little too much in MY OPINION.

Hello, I have been reading the forums for a couple of months but haven't had anything to post - but I have learned so much from everyone here. Thanks!

Anyway, I am putting together a survival pouch for everyday carry. My husband and I love hiking and I would like to have some extra gear on me at all times, not just in our backpacks at base camp. I am having trouble deciding which pouch to buy and what to put into it. I would like the pouch to be as small as possible as I am a 5 foot 6 in 130lb woman size 4.

I want to carry:
Emergency Blanket - I feel this is very important
Water proof matches
Firestarter
Tinder
Small Bic
Bandaids
Aluminum Foil
Safety Pins
Sewing needle/thread
Quick Clot
Medicines (ascriptin and benedryl so my dog can take the meds too and anti diarrhea)
Water treatment tabs
Salt
Condom to fill with water
Duct Tape
Fishing line, sinker and hook
Small Buck pocket knife

For the pouches I am debating between the Maxpedition: Three-by-five, Four-by-Six, Tactile Small and the M1 Waistpack. Does anyone own any of these and use them with these types of items? My main problem is I have no idea what I can fit into these pouches as I don't have access to them. My survival blanket is folded down to 4.5" X 3' which would take up most of the Three-by-Five pouch.

For a trial run I put all the items in the first list in the front pouch of my Maxpedition Fatboy (I got a great deal on it) and it took up about 6"X3" of the pouch, but that is just an estimate.

In a wilderness situation I would also be carrying my Gerber 10" Survival Knife my brother got me, but I can't carry that around in the city. I always wear my para-cord bracelet with compass and para-cord anklet.

To sum it up, am I carrying too much, not enough, just right? Missing anything? Does anyone own a pouch in this size range to recommend? Cheaper (price not quality) pouches are always welcome but I don't want the pouch to stand out on a tiny girl.

thanks

What I would suggest to you is thinking about weight, I thought alot about what I could and would carry and broke it down into "waves" . First is a small carry ziploc type bag from Adventure Medical. This is and can be on my person all of the time. Then I started a fannie type pack that has more stuff then finally a backpack. Each is based on increases the time in the woods or wereever I would be and what is needed for survival. I started this after being lost in the woods once as it started to rain/snow on us. Think shelter first, then clean water, first aid and heat/coolness control, then food.

I suggest you include a bobbin of 100 ft or so of 50- or 75-lb. braided fishing line, like Spyderwire, in your kit. It's very light weight, takes up little room and can be used for snares, lashing up shelters, sewing repairs in gear, and also making trot lines or other fishing uses. Much lighter and more compact than 550 cord, but not as strong either.
I'd lose the condom, quikclot, pepper spray, and snare wire, they're just too heavy and bulky and not that useful. Replace the condom with an oven bag. Replace the small Buck folding knife with a fixed blade Buck or Mora, 3.5"-5" blade. If you only carry one knife a folder is too fragile to rely on.
Don't know where you are, but if you have much rain or snow at all I'd put in a small, 5x7' or 8x10', tarp. Very useful for shelter and other stuff, and not too heavy or bulky.
Organize your first aid kit (FAK) in it's own container, a ziplock plastic bag for example, so it's easier to find stuff and to move to other packs or pockets when necessary.
Your PSK or EDC kit is very unique to you, your needs, your skills, your climate and environment, and will change slightly for seasonal variations as well as length of planned outing. Keep it flexible and make it yours, and use it often to get familiar with whats in it and how to use it.

Mylar Space Blankets. Weigh only 2 ounces but tough material. Use one to make a shelter and one to rap up in. Reflects body heat back at you, fire heat onto you or sun heat away from you. Very shiny and easy for rescuer to spot. Good improvised rain gear.

Without knowing the geography, climate and season it is impossible to put together a good list. It's just guesswork. Urban vrs rural, temperature, topography, flora and fauna, etc. all have a big effect on what you need.

My survival kits are all in a maxpedition ifap. They have three zippered compartments that allow you to sort stuff a bit better. It isn't near as big as some of the ones I've seen but it doesn't fit in your back pocket either. Somebody mentioned ditching the needle and thread. I'd ditch the thread, get some waxed dental floss and keep the needle. The floss will be better cordage than most thread and is another great multiuse piece of kit. A needle takes up so little room why toss it? I actually have a razorblade that I taped a few needles and a safety pin too. Makes em easier to find without poking the crap out of yourself. The water treatment tabs could be replaced by a 2% tincure (sp) of iodine (found at cvs or wallgreens or the like). It comes in a plastic bottle (I think the water tabs are usually in a glass bottle) and is another multipurpose thing allowing you to clean cuts and stuff.

Snare wire: make your own with fishing leader wire. I have a thread on here somewhere about making it. Picture wire is also recommended by some.

Saw: I have a Gerber exchange a blade folding saw and love it. Looking to upgrade to the bahco laplander eventually. The wire "survival saws" suck but the ones that are like a chainsaw blade are supposed to be pretty good.

Emergency rain gear: a heavy duty landscaper trashbag or 55gal barrel liner is where it's at. Another multiuse item that can store water and keep you dry.

Pepper spray: if you want to carry this look at the ASP defender series. Way smaller and made by a company that makes all of the battons and handcuffs for the LE community.

I would add a 12 hour candle. Combined with the mylar blanket, that is a shelter in and of itself. You can stick the lit candle down at your feet and wrap the blanket around you and loosely over your head and the heat from the candle will keep you warm.

You can also use it to light fires (keep your fingers from getting burnt by matches or lighter) and for a basic light source.

Wood isn't always easy to find or to light in the winter, so I always have a candle.

I'll second the 12 hour candle, or even making a tuna can stove under the same principle...not quite as long burning, no matter how much paraffin you put in, but hotter and able to cook food/boil water if you had a need to. A nuwick 44 hour candle might be something to consider, depending on how much space you have. I'd also recommend a painter's drop cloth, some of the 1-2 mil product that's on the market now, to help with shelter waterproofing. Throw that over the first layer of a debris hut and it not only makes it much warmer but also makes it 100% waterproof. A BIG plus if you don't have a true tent. I typically carry a 8x10' sheet, though I've seen them as small as 6x4', which should -just- cover a small debris hut for a single person.

You're going to need some kind of wood processing equipment, if you want a fire. In dry weather you can pick up twigs and break off low dead branches, but in wet weather the only way I've been able to get one started is with split wood and a lot of patience. A survival knife like you say you're going to carry will do the job, but I'd rather have a pocket chain saw or saber cut saw to cut the wood to splittable lengths. If you have spare room in your pouch, you may consider it, but it's not an absolute requirement.

As far as water purification tablets, if you haven't already seen them, Katadyn makes tablets in their own blister packs, and I've found these can be packed in a very small area, to fill up loose space. Much better than anything in bottles for me! (Source)

Do you carry a canteen with you? A USGI 1 quart canteen rides on my belt when I go, and I have a canteen cup on the bottom that I can boil water in, should I feel the need. (Source)

As far as knives go, a folding utility knife is what I carry as my absolute last ditch cutting tool, with a folding saw as a backup wood processing tool. Both of these are very lightweight, and can do a good job of processing small game, should you be able to catch any. (Source)

My personal fishing kit goes on a floss bobbin, and I've found it's about the smallest way to pack it down. Load it with the heaviest spider wire fishing line you can get, 50-75 yards worth, and you also have cordage enough to make most of the essentials around camp, including a shelter. Tape your fishing hooks to the bobbin and crimp your sinkers to hold the line on the bobbin.(Source)

As for fire kits, for me I prefer a Bic lighter and a Swedish fire steel backup, with Tinder Quik fire tabs as my fuel. They're smaller than most fire starters I see a burn for about two minutes. If I have my ducks in a row I ought to be able to get a fire started with just one, and keep it going. Also, these, like the water purification tablets, can be used to stuff empty space.The firestarter advertised with them does the job well, though I'd not take it as my first choice. (Source)

As for the snare wire...if you have the space, I'd say take it. Wrap 5-10 yards around 6-10 finishing nails to aid in trap making and you still have a really tiny kit for the potential resources you can get from it. Between that and your fishing line and your paracord bracelet/anklets you should be good on trap making and shelter building.

Phew. Now you've got me wanting to try making a smaller kit. Mine right now is in two pouches riding on my belt along with a thermite versipack (to hold my revolver) and a camel bak to carry extra water on day hikes, along with a few other supplies. I'll have to take pictures once I have everything together.

My .02. Use or abuse as you see fit.

Tryste

EDIT: You might also consider a small light, like the Streamlight Keymate LED flashlight. That's on my key chain and has saved my bacon a couple of times, though mostly in more urban settings. Would also be useful as a signaling device.